Jenny (Helland) McNamara was born in Black Lake, Washington August 28th, 1936. As a child, during the depression, she picked strawberries with her family. Her favorite childhood memories included time with her brothers and her cousins Sandra and Marla. She reminisced about racing her car against the boys in her teen years and always winning. She moved to Crescent City, CA in 1954, and made it her home for the rest of her life.
She was sweet, quick-witted, resilient and independent. Over the years she was a business owner of Northcrest Feed and Hardware and Jenny's Bookkeeping, a land developer, rancher, farmer, and a bookkeeper for McNamara and Peepe, Northcrest, Inc. and the County of Del Norte.
She painted landscapes, mentored by beloved niece Krissy (Wheelon) Palucci (d), enjoyed lunches with the Class of 1954 Committee and was always ready to assemble a challenging puzzle. She adored butterflies and spending time with friends and family. Her home was one built by love.
She always had a pot of coffee and something ready to eat for anyone who walked through the door and she had the most tender heart for babies and children. She was a shoulder to lean on and will be remembered as “Mother to all” because she opened her home and heart to so many children including her great nephew, and the apple of her eye, Reggie (Jenny) Loftin; also, JD (Denna) Evanow, Allen "Oops" Gates (d), Tate Noll (d) and Valerie Greene. She was delighted when friends like William "Mokie" Blake (d), or anyone else brought her some fresh fish, crab, or venison.
She knew, or was related to, nearly everyone in Crescent City during the 60 years she lived there. Preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Pvt. Richard "Ike" McNamara, her mother and “grandmother to all” Nina Helland, father Pvt. John Helland, brother Capt. Junior Helland, many wonderful conspiratorial sisters-in-law, niece Sandy Helland and nephew and friend Jimmy Loftin. She is survived by her brother Capt. Neil Helland of Boise, Idaho, sons Richard McNamara, Nicholas McNamara and his wife Ruth, Donald McNamara, daughter Connie Evans and son-in-law Danny. Grandchildren include Joey McNamara, Nicholas McNamara, Billy McNamara, Ariel (Allen) Clark, Morgan (Brice Gardenhire) McNamara, Richard (Melissa Scarborough) McNamara, Sierra Jager, almost 8 great grandchildren and her very beloved nieces and nephews.
The Helland, Phelps, Quist, Endert, Gargaetas, Loftin, Jarvis, Wheelon, Camarena, Towers, Wakefield, Whipple, Paulucci, Blake, Hindley, Bommelyn, Blackwell-White, Ferguson, Caldwell, and Scott families were more than family, they were also dear friends.
She went to her reward peacefully, asleep in her bed, on Sunday, December 4th, 2022. She rests, awaiting His return, in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Crescent City. A Celebration of Life will be held when winter abates. The family requests donations be made to The Lake Earl Grange or The Pacific Legal Foundation.